arbitrate
verb
ar·bi·trate
ˈär-bə-ˌtrāt 
arbitrated; arbitrating
1
: to act as arbiter upon (a disputed question) : to settle (a dispute between two people or groups) after hearing the arguments and opinions of both
She arbitrated the dispute.
2
: to submit or refer for decision to an arbiter
agreed to arbitrate their differences
: to act as arbiter
The council will arbitrate among the interest groups.
Examples of arbitrate in a Sentence
The council will arbitrate among the interest groups.
arbitrate between managers and staff
She will arbitrate the dispute.
Recent Examples on the Web
If hip-hop is viewed as a cultural inheritance, then its value – and what’s considered historically important – may be better arbitrated by people in the culture, not outside forces.
—
A.d. Carson, The Conversation, 7 Apr. 2025
Our borders, if not strictly arbitrary, were certainly arbitrated by outsiders during colonialism, and fixed on the map only six decades ago.
—Namwali Serpell, The New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2025
In these cases, your matchmaker arbitrates disputes.
—Selam Gebrekidan, New York Times, 23 Mar. 2025
Normally, Maduro is able to arbitrate disputes between his captains.
—Moisés Naím, Foreign Affairs, 28 Sep. 2021
See All Example Sentences for arbitrate
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A.d. Carson, The Conversation, 7 Apr. 2025
Our borders, if not strictly arbitrary, were certainly arbitrated by outsiders during colonialism, and fixed on the map only six decades ago.
—Namwali Serpell, The New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2025
In these cases, your matchmaker arbitrates disputes.
—Selam Gebrekidan, New York Times, 23 Mar. 2025
Normally, Maduro is able to arbitrate disputes between his captains.
—Moisés Naím, Foreign Affairs, 28 Sep. 2021
See All Example Sentences for arbitrate
Cite this Entry
“Arbitrate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/arbitrate. Accessed 29 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
arbitrate
verb
ar·bi·trate
ˈär-bə-ˌtrāt
arbitrated; arbitrating
1
: to settle a disagreement after hearing the arguments of both sides
arbitrate between management and labor
2
: to refer a dispute to others for settlement : submit to arbitration
Legal Definition
arbitrate
verb
ar·bi·trate
ˈär-bə-ˌtrāt
arbitrated; arbitrating
1
: to act as arbitrator for
2
: to bring to arbitration for settlement
agreed to arbitrate their dispute
: to act as arbitrator
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